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| DR Congo accuses UN over killings | DR Congo accuses UN over killings |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| The Democratic Republic of Congo has accused UN peacekeepers of failing to stop rebel troops killing civilians in the east of the country. | The Democratic Republic of Congo has accused UN peacekeepers of failing to stop rebel troops killing civilians in the east of the country. |
| "People are being slaughtered and [UN peacekeepers] did nothing," a spokesman for President Joseph Kabila said. | "People are being slaughtered and [UN peacekeepers] did nothing," a spokesman for President Joseph Kabila said. |
| The comments came as regional leaders met UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon in Kenya for crisis talks. | The comments came as regional leaders met UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon in Kenya for crisis talks. |
| Congolese rebels have been fighting government troops, causing tens of thousands of civilians to flee. | Congolese rebels have been fighting government troops, causing tens of thousands of civilians to flee. |
| A spokesman for the UN in DR Congo, Madnodje Mounoubai, told the BBC that the UN was doing its best to help civilians, but that peacekeepers could not fire at rebels when they were surrounded by civilians. | |
| See detailed map of the area | See detailed map of the area |
| "You cannot fire when you have civilians on the road running in all directions. If you start firing in that situation you end up killing a lot of civilians," he said. | |
| "We have to be responsible when we are using our fire power, that's our problem." | |
| The situation in DR Congo has been described as a humanitarian catastrophe. | |
| The UN has 17,000 peacekeepers in DR Congo, making the mission, Monuc, its largest in the world. | The UN has 17,000 peacekeepers in DR Congo, making the mission, Monuc, its largest in the world. |
| But only a few hundred peacekeepers are in the areas affected by the latest violence, and human rights groups have also criticised the UN for failing to prevent the killings. | |
| However, Monuc says it is reinforcing its troops in the regional capital, Goma, and has warned that soldiers will fire on any armed group trying to enter the city. | However, Monuc says it is reinforcing its troops in the regional capital, Goma, and has warned that soldiers will fire on any armed group trying to enter the city. |
| Child soldiers | Child soldiers |
| On Thursday, the charity Save the Children said the fighting had led to a sharp increase in the kidnapping of children to become child soldiers. | On Thursday, the charity Save the Children said the fighting had led to a sharp increase in the kidnapping of children to become child soldiers. |
| Before the recent fighting, there were an estimated 3,000 child soldiers across the country, but that number is now expected to be far higher. | Before the recent fighting, there were an estimated 3,000 child soldiers across the country, but that number is now expected to be far higher. |
| Save the Children says they have uncovered at least two cases of militiamen ambushing children on their way to school or forcing their way into classrooms. | Save the Children says they have uncovered at least two cases of militiamen ambushing children on their way to school or forcing their way into classrooms. |
| The UN should not leave these defenceless people to be slaughtered by fighters on both sides Anneke Van WoudenbergHuman Rights Watch Africa's 'First World War'Congo witness: 'I saw them die'Congolese head home despite fearIn pictures: Rebel advance | The UN should not leave these defenceless people to be slaughtered by fighters on both sides Anneke Van WoudenbergHuman Rights Watch Africa's 'First World War'Congo witness: 'I saw them die'Congolese head home despite fearIn pictures: Rebel advance |
| The UN also said it was investigating reports that rebels led by General Laurent Nkunda killed civilians in their homes in the eastern town of Kiwanja. | The UN also said it was investigating reports that rebels led by General Laurent Nkunda killed civilians in their homes in the eastern town of Kiwanja. |
| At least 12 bodies were found in the town, which was retaken by rebels loyal to Laurent Nkunda earlier this week. | At least 12 bodies were found in the town, which was retaken by rebels loyal to Laurent Nkunda earlier this week. |
| "They knocked on the doors, when the people opened, they killed them with their guns," said Simo Bramporiki, whose wife and child were killed during the night. | "They knocked on the doors, when the people opened, they killed them with their guns," said Simo Bramporiki, whose wife and child were killed during the night. |
| One woman showed journalists the bodies of five men inside her house, one of them her husband, and two more lying outside. | One woman showed journalists the bodies of five men inside her house, one of them her husband, and two more lying outside. |
| Gen Nkunda claimed his fighters, who have also seized control of the town of Nyanzale, about 80km (50 miles) north-west of Goma, had attacked armed pro-government militia. | Gen Nkunda claimed his fighters, who have also seized control of the town of Nyanzale, about 80km (50 miles) north-west of Goma, had attacked armed pro-government militia. |
| However, reports say there was nothing to indicate the men, most of whom were wearing civilian clothing, were fighters. | However, reports say there was nothing to indicate the men, most of whom were wearing civilian clothing, were fighters. |
| Proxy war? | Proxy war? |
| Gen Nkunda has threatened to topple the DR Congo government in Kinshasa, 1,580km (980 miles) west of Goma, unless President Kabila agrees to hold direct talks. | Gen Nkunda has threatened to topple the DR Congo government in Kinshasa, 1,580km (980 miles) west of Goma, unless President Kabila agrees to hold direct talks. |
| The Congolese government has refused to negotiate with Gen Nkunda, calling him a terrorist. | The Congolese government has refused to negotiate with Gen Nkunda, calling him a terrorist. |
| He says he is fighting to protect his Tutsi community from attack by Rwandan Hutu rebels, who fled to Congo after the 1994 genocide. | He says he is fighting to protect his Tutsi community from attack by Rwandan Hutu rebels, who fled to Congo after the 1994 genocide. |
| The Congolese government has often promised to stop Hutu forces from using its territory, but has not done so. | The Congolese government has often promised to stop Hutu forces from using its territory, but has not done so. |
| For its part, the Congolese government accuses Rwanda of backing Gen Nkunda in a proxy war, which Rwanda denies. | For its part, the Congolese government accuses Rwanda of backing Gen Nkunda in a proxy war, which Rwanda denies. |
| Gen Nkunda defends his military actions | Gen Nkunda defends his military actions |
| Gen Nkunda also objects to government plans for foreign involvement in exploiting the country's vast mineral wealth. | Gen Nkunda also objects to government plans for foreign involvement in exploiting the country's vast mineral wealth. |
| Correspondents say a ceasefire around Goma appears to be holding, but the latest clashes have sparked fears the rebels could follow through on their threat to attack the city. | Correspondents say a ceasefire around Goma appears to be holding, but the latest clashes have sparked fears the rebels could follow through on their threat to attack the city. |
| Tens of thousands of people have sought refuge there. | Tens of thousands of people have sought refuge there. |
| Meanwhile, Rwandan President Paul Kagame has blamed the international community for failing to address what he says are the root causes of the crisis, despite channelling tens of millions of dollars into the region. | Meanwhile, Rwandan President Paul Kagame has blamed the international community for failing to address what he says are the root causes of the crisis, despite channelling tens of millions of dollars into the region. |
| He said the real reason for the crisis was what he described as the weak leadership of the Congolese government, which had failed to disarm Hutu rebels. | He said the real reason for the crisis was what he described as the weak leadership of the Congolese government, which had failed to disarm Hutu rebels. |
| Return to top | Return to top |
Are you in DR Congo? Have you or your family been affected by the fighting? | Are you in DR Congo? Have you or your family been affected by the fighting? |
| Send your comments using the post form below, or text 00 44 7725 800 100. | Send your comments using the post form below, or text 00 44 7725 800 100. |
| In most cases a selection of your comments will be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. | In most cases a selection of your comments will be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. |